Oh! How Pinteresting!

Happy Leap-day! I love pinterest... don't we all!? Time to link up with the vintage apple to share my favorite pins from this week!

1) Amazing. The perspective on the second photo is priceless. I die.

pinned here

2) I love Keri Russell, and I love the styling of this picture. Kinda perfect. I also would like to live this life!

pinned here

3) This J.Crew clutch is adorable. 

pinned here

 4) I'm not currently planning a wedding, but every girl has some kind of idea of the dress she wants for the big day. This one would be on my short list!

pinned here

5) Michelle Williams looked gorgeous at the oscars. I loved the coral color of her dress!

pinned here

6) Speaking of the oscars, I also loved Kristin Wiig's dress/hair. I think it was either a 'love it' or 'hate it' moment for people. I think she looked beautiful.

pinned here

7) I love Kendi Everyday. This outfit is super cute.

pinned here

8) I got this ad in my inbox from DSW. I think it's really sweet and a great picture idea for couples!

pinned here

Happy Pinning!

-kara

Quick Change

I am notorious for getting comfortable in the evening, and not wanting to fully change my outfit for dinner, drinks with friends etc. for the night. Here is an easy way to get changed quickly... with 4 quick tweaks, I took this look from cozy to casual chic.

Cozy Look: Loose hair, Rolled up jeans, cozy sweater, chunky scarf, thick socks, 

striped shirt. (of course!)

Chic Look: 

Change #1: Same jeans unrolled

Change #2: black boots 

Change #3: black blazer instead of chunky sweater

Change #4: hair pulled half back. (only took 30 seconds to pull back!)

Same striped shirt, jewelry and scarf.

Pretty Easy!

(Jeans: True Religion similar; Sweater: Old Navy, similar; shirt, socks: J.Crew; Boots: Franco Sarto, similar; Blazer: Gap, similar; Watch: Michael Kors; Rings: Forever21; Bracelet: Handmade; Scarf: Handmade)

Have a great week!

-kara

Fridays=Flowers

Is there anything better than fresh flowers? 

It's amazing to me how quickly they can brighten up a space, or someone's day for that matter! One of the super fun (yep, I said super fun) parts of my job is that during the month of February I get to create $50 worth of floral arrangements for the weekends. The best part is that I get to do the arrangements on Fridays...what a wonderful way to end the week! I always say that I go to my "happy place" when I'm arranging flowers. I'm no expert, but I love to play.

I am slightly limited with my selection of flowers for 2 two reasons: First, I only have $50 to spend (which is a lot for flowers I understand, but I would LOVE to spend more!) and second, the only reasonably priced retailer in close proximity to my work is the local Trader Joe's grocery. I love TJ's, but their selection can be hit or miss.

This season, they have tended to have a good amount of Hydrangeas which is a "go-to" option for me... big bang for my buck, and most people love them. This week they had beautiful Calla Lilies, in white and green for only $3.49 per bunch. I scooped them up! Here are a few pictures I took yesterday...

Here's what I purchased

Here are some of the arrangements. 

This arrangement of Callas was hard to photograph. There isn't a good place to take pics at work, and this vase is 20" tall. I love the terrarium feel of the arrangement! I used a "frog" and hid it with river rocks. So pretty and artful.

For $50 I was able to make 6 arrangements. Not too shabby!

Have a wonderful weekend!

-kara

Oh and by the way... the weather is still nice enough that I was able to spend my morning blogging on my balcony with my coffee listening to a little Cee Lo and Jason Aldean. In my Pj's. My kind of morning! :)

High Five Friday!

It's time to link up with lauren for High Five Friday! My five favorite things from the past week... ready? Go!

1) My manicure this week. Super yellow, super fun, super chipped already! :)

2) This Le Creuset Dutch Oven I got on floor sample for less than $100! Now I need to learn how to cook...

3) I got to eat lunch here on Thursday. The weather was beautiful and the flowers were freshly planted! (That morning!)

4) This picture I took... the trees look like February, but the weather says otherwise! See #5

5) Hello! Seriously? So warm! Lovely!

Remember, it's the little things!

-kara

My life through Instagram... Part 1

I wanted to share pictures I have taken over the last year+ with instagram. It might be my favorite app! I love editing my pictures, sharing them with my friends, and seeing theirs. Here are 5 collages of my instagram pics! More to come!

From left to right, top to bottom:

One of the most delicious cupcakes ever, S'more flavor from Kara's Cupcakes (no relation!)

One of my guy's cats, Sydney being loving on my lap. Love her.

Me and my converse, taken on vacation.

The most delicious fruit salad I've ever made. I believe it was my dinner one summer day!

My childhood dog, Sam, as a puppy. I miss him daily.

The orchid given to me on Vday last year...sadly it's not longer with us. I'm terrible with orchids!

Sydney again...up close and personal!

My guy.

Oh the girls... this time, Sydney's sister Aussie. Lounging, as usual.

The sisters cuddling. So. Freakin. Cute!

Sydney's paw.

The girls trying to cool off on one of the hottest days last summer. Note Aussie's position!

My adorable nephew on his way to the pool!

My mom's cat Joey... girl's got some junk in the trunk!

My guy and me. I feel awkward that I'm taking up SO much of this pic, but think it's cute of us anyway

His sister's wedding this past fall... we ate dinner literally in a vineyard. It was gorgeous.

My guy and me in wine country.

My nephew and bro-in-law at the pumpkin patch riding a pony!

My nephew loves to see himself in iphone pics!

Sydney and me snuggling while napping!

More to come in part 2!

-kara

Oh! How Pinteresting!

It's Pinterest Wednesday... Linking up with thevingtageapple.com to share my favorite pins from the week!

1) First, I love both of these ladies. They really kept themselves classy during their reality show and after. They seem like such honest friends. Second, they are super stylish! :)

pinned here

2) Corgi puppy. No explanation necessary.

 pinned here

3) I'm in love with these Nine West Wedges. They might need to get into my closet for summer. I can see them with dresses, rolled up skinny jeans, and even short. In my opinion they've already paid for themselves! (well, I don't know what they cost so maybe not?)

 pinned here

4) I love this outfit. I love that I own similar items and could recreate it tomorrow!

pinned here

5) I love lace right now. It's everywhere!

pinned here

6) This recipe looks amazing! (Baked mozzarella sticks) I stumbled upon this blog through Pinterest and have been obsessed ever since!

pinned here

7) I love this skirt from Francesca's. Classic yet modern.

pinned here

8) This look has me written all over it. I love how casual it is, and i love her hair and glasses. Perfect!

pinned here

happy pinning! You can follow my pinterest boards here , or click the "follow me" button on my sidebar!

-kara

Stripes... for Presidents' Day? Sure.

Happy Presidents' Day to everyone! I hope you all had the day off... because I most definitely didn't. Needless to say, it was mighty difficult to pull myself out of my warm bed at 6am this morning. But I did it! Tomorrow will be better. Hopefully.

Here is my *first* outfit post! (yikes!) I'm definitely looking forward to warmer weather so that I can take pics outside... my apartment is not particularly fantastic for taking photos!

**Sweater and Jeans: Gap, Oxfords: Old Navy (similar), Necklace: Forever21 (edited! see post here), Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Handmade**

I love stripes. Be prepared to see a lot of them! I also love gold jewelry, big messy top knots, and these shoes...they might be the most comfortable pair I own! Only $23!